JUDGING THE AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE RIGHTEOUSLY AS A SON
1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
1Co 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
1Co 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
Most of our adult lives consist of our using, or not using our ‘better judgment’ concerning the affairs of this life, and facing the consequences that may come, and whether good or bad; we become responsible for our decisions based upon this world’s standards of this present life. But as sons “in Christ,” we are privileged with the opportunity to fully utilize our liberty status in judging the affairs of this life in a godly manner. We are expected by our Father to think like He would, do things His way, and continue to labor together with Him regardless the situation as we judge the things we face as sons in this present evil world. We are told that part of our heavenly vocation will consist of our judging angels and this world in our governmental positions as members of His body, and because of our important positions that we will be given, it should not be difficult to judge the small matters of this life as a son “in Christ.”
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
And because we have been given our Father’s word of truth revealed to us by His Spirit in our bibles, we are fully equipped with what we need to “have the mind of Christ” in all of our decision making as sons. Whereas we are ‘taught’ by our Father in our bibles by the doctrine of the Holy Ghost how we should properly judge “all things” as sons. But before the son can properly exercise his ability to “have the mind of Christ,” and judge the affairs of this life properly, he must first come to understand the vital doctrines which are crucial to the education and growth of the son.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Romans chapter 12 is the ‘first-things-first’ within the edification of the son’s growth, and here we find the beginning doctrines to the establishment for the son. The son must first come to understand and appreciate the “will of God,” regarding the son, then he will begin to realize that he should view this world’s thinking and standards the same way God does, and “conform” his thoughts, and ways to the Father. The next important step is changing the way the son views himself, because being “highminded” causes the son to not think righteously when judging the affairs of this life properly, he will think of himself when it comes to whatever situation he faces, and his decisions will be a self-willed decision, instead of making his decisions based upon “the will of God.”
Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Pro 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Pro 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Pro 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
Pro 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Pro 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
Proverbs chapter one explains the wisdom of God in the establishment of the son’s growth, and that through the wisdom of God comes “knowledge and understanding” for the son, and through this “knowledge and understanding” the son learns the will of God whereby he can now “understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.” And as he matures as a son, he will begin to let the will of God work more for him where it will be “pleasant” unto him regardless what he goes through, and this is because of his growth and experience in letting God’s word “work effectually” within him causes the son to have a different “understanding” concerning what comes his way as he matures.
Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Furthermore, understanding and appreciating the godly agape love we are to walk in causes the son’s decisions to be based upon the ‘abounding love’ that the son has come to understand by the will of God in “all things.” And the more the saint begins to learn the love of God, and learn that because Christ gave Himself for us, by example we are called upon to display the same self-less love in our walk also. But this godly love is also learned by the “wisdom” of God’s word, and our benefiting from it, and possessing “the fruits of the Spirit” within us.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
The “fruit of the Spirit” is the ‘benefit of the Spirit’ through the word of God for the saint as he grows up into a “perfect man,” where he can exercise “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” in whatever he faces. And as he judges the affairs of this life according to the will of God, the “fruit of the Spirit” will be put on display by the son as the word of God works “effectually” from the ‘inside-out’ with the saint.
Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Php 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Php 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Finally, our knowledge and growth in God’s word makes our “walk” in love “abound yet more and more,” and we come to understand the righteous thinking and judgment that the son ought to have, we will live our sonship lives with godly charity, approving “things that are excellent” on a daily basis. And our judging the affairs of this life righteously and fairly are based upon the renewed thinking and walk of the son because of the knowledge and benefit found by the word of God. And we are shown here in verse 11 that there are more “fruits” that the righteous son can benefit from “by Jesus Christ” because of his godly walk, and “judgment” in righteousness in the affairs of this present evil world.
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Rod Jones